TORONTO, April 26, 2013 /CNW/ - TELUS is warning its customers about a
sudden and significant increase in the volume of vacation scam calls to
Ontario residents. When someone picks up the scam call a recorded voice
thanks them for choosing TELUS and that the company is giving you a
free vacation for being a good customer. If you stay on the line it
connects you to a person who will try to convince you to give them
personal information or send money as a down-payment on fees for the
vacation.

The calls are fraudulent, and in no way related to TELUS. TELUS
recommends you simply hang up if you receive a call.

The scam is common, re-surfacing periodically using the name of a
well-known corporation to appear credible to try and trick people into
sharing personal information or sending money to a fraudster.

While the calls typically have a North American caller ID that is simply
an attempt to look legitimate and gain trust. TELUS Security has
confirmed the caller ID is being spoofed, and the calls are actually
coming from outside Canada. TELUS Security has already blocked calls
from several numbers from reaching its customers, but the scammers are
simply creating new false numbers.

It appears the scammers are using auto-dialers to randomly call
thousands of phone numbers - not just TELUS customers.

TELUS Security is working with law enforcement officials to try to
determine where the calls are, in fact, coming from and put an end to
them at the source if possible.

This is just one of several common phone scams that periodically target
Canadians. If you receive a call you suspect is fraudulent, do not give
out personal information and simply hang up. Legitimate telemarketers
will always know your name and will always provide you with a number
for you to call them back at your convenience.

If you believe you may have given personal information to a scam artist
and need assistance securing your TELUS account, please call TELUS
Fraud Management at 1-877-567-2062.